VAI Voice

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Here’s what you need to know.

Colorectal cancers are the third most common cancer in the U.S. (excluding skin cancers).Colon and rectal cancers, often referred to together as “colorectal cancer,” share some important similarities — both affect parts of the large intestine, both frequently present as adenocarcinomas (a type of cancer that begins in cells that produce fluids such as mucus), and both start as growths called polyps.

However, last year, American Cancer Society (ACS) researchers reported a disturbing increase in the number of cases diagnosed in younger people — namely, that people born in 1990 have double the risk of developing colon cancer and quadruple the risk of developing rectal cancer than people born in 1950.

While the incidence rates for these diseases have been dropping overall — about 2.7 percent annually over the past decade, according to the National Cancer Institute — the ACS study revealed that this decline is largely fueled by older people. When they broke the data down, they found that incidence rates have actually been increasing to the tune of 1 to 2 percent each year for colon cancer in people ages 20 to 39 and 3 percent per year for rectal cancer in adults 20 to 29.

It’s not entirely clear why this increase is occurring, but it’s likely linked in part to obesity, poor diet and lack of exercise. To lower your risk, experts recommend:

In many cases, symptoms aren’t apparent in the earliest stages of the disease.People younger than age 55 are 58 percent more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage cancer, in part because “cancer is typically not on the radar of young adults and their providers,” the authors of the ACS study said at the time.

Early detection is critical, and may prevent the disease entirely if precancerous polyps are found and removed. People should be vigilant about symptoms and discuss any concerns with their physician. Signs include:

A prolonged change in bowel habits

Cramping or abdominal pain

Rectal bleeding, blood in the stool or dark stools

A feeling that you have to go that is not alleviated by a bowel movement

Weakness, fatigue or unintended weight loss

Experts recommend talking to your doctor if you have a family history of colorectal cancers. Due to a higher incidence of developing colorectal cancers, the many experts also recommend African Americans begin screening early at 45.

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Established by Jay and Betty Van Andel in 1996, Van Andel Institute is committed to improving the health and changing the lives of current and future generations, through biomedical research and science education.